CD Reviews

Was It Tomorrow ? Or Will Be Yesterday ?

J. H. Infante | Guadalajara, Ja, Mex | 03/31/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Apocalyptic Raids album was the logic base were Thomas Gabriel Fisher and Martin Erick Ain had to develop the later Celtic Frost, cornerstone of Death Metal.Hellhammer were based on Black Metal very in the mood of Venom and some Motorheadesque influence, lyrics were honestly a little immature but the attitude is there at 100%.The sound is furious, lyrics kinda epic poetry, and the voice of Fischer is smashing, Ain bass is also very dense, hellhammer was the prelude something big were about to happen.

HM

"

Hellhammer - 'Apocaliptic Raids' (Noise)

Mike Reed | USA | 05/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released as a four song EP in 1984. As most of you know, Hellhammer is Celtic Frost's mainman Tom Warrior's side project. I'm hearing this effort for the first time. Couldn't get enough of "The Third Of The Storms" or the awesome head-banging "Triumph Of Death". With this reissue, you get two added bonus cuts - "Revelations Of Doom" and "Messiah". All the more reason to purchase this title. Any old school Frost fans that haven't had the pleasure are sure to eat this material up. Recommended."

A masterpiece? The worst record ever? You decide

J. Sa | Salvador, BRAZIL | 11/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many an extreme Metal fan would post a 5-star review right away to "Apocalyptic Raids", the one and only Hellhammer release. It's "classic" status might be deserved, but it does get in the way of trying a fresh look toward one of defining albums of Death/Black Metal history.

To the average music fan, this EP is an unnerving listen. Not only because of it's scary cover art and it's dark, primevil music. Sloppy musicianship, muddy production values and sophomoric "evil" alter-egos ("Slayed Necros"? "Satanic Slaughter"?) could also be a turn-off. But that's the beside the point. This was (and still is) underground music, the opposite of the slick million-dollar production common to some eighties cock-rock band (Poison? Mötley Crüe?).

Such brave and brute musicianship will always open up new paths, news avenues to explore. Take "Triumph of Death", for example. Warrior's chromatic trills, mixed in with Ain's gurgling screams and the pounding drums of "Denial Fiend" (Bruce Day) makes for a truly mindblowing experience. The intro to "Agressor" ("Horus") is another example. In it, the guitars clash in a way that reminds me of the dissonance employed by some 20th century classical composers. György Ligeti and Krzysztof Penderecki come to mind.

Last but not least: I wholly agree to what another reviewer (Oliver Sheppard) did, pointing out the similarities between this and early 1980s Hardcore Punk. "Messiah" does remind me of Black Flag's "Slip It In". This is an amazing synchronicity, though, considering that Hellhammer's music background was totally made up of Hard Rock/NWOBHM bands: Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Raven and Venom. No wonder that Hellhammer's brutish Metal went on to be an influence to the likes of Doom (Crust Punk) and Napalm Death (Grindcore).

I don't like making review conclusions, but I'll tell this much: whatever your background - be it Metal, Punk, Noise or Industrial - give this a try. Listen hard, and you won't regret it."